Gemma Spokes

🌿 A space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself

I work with people who feel weighed down by anxiety, low mood, stress, or the sense of being overwhelmed. Some are struggling with relationships, trauma or difficult past experiences. Others are navigating life changes, questions about who they are.

As an integrative counsellor, I adapt how I work to fit your individual needs. This might involve looking at past experiences, recognising patterns in how you think and feel, and developing practical strategies to manage anxiety, overwhelm or emotional stress. The goal is to help you feel more grounded, gain clarity, and build a stronger capacity to cope.

I have a particular interest in supporting people living with chronic illness, and parents and carers of children with chronic health conditions, but you don't need a diagnosis to work with me. Whatever has brought you here, you'll be met with warmth, respect and without judgement.

👋🏼 About Me

I'm Gemma, a BACP-registered integrative counsellor. I'm also a parent of a child with a chronic health condition, so I understand how heavy that can feel and how daunting it can be to ask for support. That's why I aim to make sessions safe, compassionate, and down-to-earth.

Alongside my private practice, I work as a counsellor at Mid Kent Mind, supporting people with anxiety, depression, stress, domestic and emotional abuse, neurodiversity, relationship issues and trauma.

🔑 How Counselling Can Help

Many of my clients describe feeling stuck, exhausted by coping on their own, or disconnected from themselves and the people around them. Counselling can offer a space to pause, reflect, and begin to reconnect with yourself, your values, and the people who matter to you. 

In our early sessions, I'll focus on getting to know you and what has brought you to counselling, so you feel safe and able to trust the process. From there, we'll shape the work around your goals, with room to adjust as we go.

📞 Getting in Touch

Reaching out can feel daunting, but you don't have to take that step alone. I offer a free 20-minute call with no pressure and no obligation, a chance to ask questions, get a feel for how we might work together, and decide whether I'm the right fit for you.

I'm committed to making counselling accessible, so I offer a limited number of reduced-fee spaces for people who are unemployed or on a low income. These may occasionally have a waiting list, so please get in touch if you'd like to talk about it.

🌱 What to expect from your first session

We'll start by getting to know each other at a pace that feels right for you. I'll talk you through how I work and the practical details, and you're welcome to ask me anything. Then, when you're ready, we'll begin exploring what has brought you here and what you'd like to get from counselling.